News

Whether is is happening at the Rio Texas United Methodist Center in San Antonio or out in the mission field, we want you to know what is going on! Check out our Twitter and Facebook to keep updated as well! @RioTXAC

Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

As Rio Texas churches are preparing for Christmas Eve worship, some are including Lydia Patterson Institute (LPI) in their plans. Leander United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church, Austin are designating their Christmas offerings to support the LPI Capital Campaign.

Dec. 6 Editors Note: Since we published this article last week, five churches have let us know that they are including a special offering for Lydia Patterson as part of their Christmas plans.

Delegates of the 2017 Rio Texas Annual Conference affirmed an effort to raise $500,000 for the LPI capital campaign to renovate the school’s facilities in El Paso. Building upon initial lead donations, the bulk of our conference gift will come through voluntary contributions from churches, Bible study classes, districts, and individuals. This will include the Christmas offerings at FUMC, Austin and Leander UMC.

Rev. Jon Snape

Leander UMC Pastor Rev. Jon Snape explained the church is supporting this effort at Christmas, "to support a ministry that is close to our vision as a church that cares deeply for children and school."

"In many ways," said Snape, "it means we get to be the church. It can feel off track when we are desperately trying to pay for our expenses within the walls of the church, so to get to focus on a ministry like LPI feels deeply Christian."

FUMC, Austin sees the Christmas offering as a chance to change lives. In announcing the Christmas offering on their website, the church states:

Through our gifts to Lydia Patterson Institute, we have the power to change a young person’s life. This is what we do as Christians—we recognize all that God has done to change our lives, and then we join God in changing the lives of others. In doing so, we transform the world, one life at a time.

Lydia Patterson Institute has spent over 100 years educating young people from a Christian, Wesleyan perspective to be transformational leaders in the world. One hundred percent of 2017 graduates were placed in colleges and universities.

It is not too late to support LPI with your Christmas offering. The conference has provided videos, bulletin inserts, and special graphics to support a special offering or campaign. Resources can be found at riotexas.org/lpi

Is your church planning to support LPI with your Christmas offering? Please let us know at media@riotexas.org

I was so grateful when Rev. Owen Ross invited me to be a part of the team allowed to enter the Tornillo detention facility to lead worship with the immigrant kids held there. So many people have wished there were something they could do in response to what we’ve seen happen with unaccompanied minors and especially immigrant children separated from their parents at the border, and I felt truly privileged to have the chance to stand in that place.

Churches throughout the Crossroads District came together to celebrate on Saturday, April 21. The District was honored to welcome Bishop and Mrs. Schnase and Rev. Diana Phillips and her husband Mark as special guests.

Fifteen college students and supporters from San Antonio Wesley and Texas State United Campus Ministry went on a mission trip to Costa Rica over Spring Break 2018. Students spent the week helping a local Costa Rica Methodist Church in Rio Cuarto as it prepared to expand its reach into the local community.

I just attended the first annual CMN conference in Dallas this past week and I got a word from God! CMN [Church Multiplication Network] is the Assembly of God church planting network. Since 2008, CMN has helped launch 3400 plus churches and trained over 7500 planters. The worship was intense and the speakers were inspirational!

Join us from 9:00 am -4:30 pm on Saturday, September 15 at Coker United Methodist Church.

Are you wondering why so many people are talking about the Enneagram? What is that strangely-shaped star? Or maybe you have never heard of the Enneagram at all, but you seek to grow in your faith and well-being. While not an exclusively Christian tool, many Christians have used the Enneagram wisely and well to draw closer to God. Wherever you're starting from, you're invited to an introduction to this profound way of looking at who we are and our paths to spiritual growth.

More than 6000 homes were affected in late June when torrential rains caused widespread flooding in the Rio Grande Valley, especially in Weslaco, Mercedes, and Pharr. The full extent of the damage and need is still being assessed. According to current FEMA registrations, 8457 homes have been damaged and 1662 destroyed.

The bishops of the five Annual Conferences in Texas today issued a joint statement commending President Trump for signing an executive order ending his administration’s policy of separating families on the border. Furthermore, the bishops urged readers to contact their congressional representative and senators to continue expressing concerns for the separated children and calling for legislation to keep families together.

The tradition continues with our very own Clergy Choir (Plus) providing music for our Annual Conference Ordination Service on Friday evening June 8. Other musically inclined delegates and spouses or youth are also invited to participate.

You’ve probably have heard of mall walking—now Rio Texas is going to be “conference walking”! In the interest of physical, mental, and spiritual wellness, the new Rio Texas Wellness Team is inviting Annual Conference attendees to track the number of steps they walk during our gathering this year in Corpus Christi, June 6-9.

El Valle District Ministry Center is a vision of the district which involved repurposing a closed church and building ministry partners. The building was redesigned to support its new purposes. We envision partnering with other groups to educate and promote healthy eating and healthy choices. We aim to help lower childhood obesity rates in the Rio Grande Valley.

May 9, 2018

Rio Texas Annual Conference16400 Huebner Road | San Antonio, Texas 78248 | 210-408-4500...and all throughout the mission field of south Texas